Plumber

Classes begin in late August and are held once a week for three hours in the evening with three hours of online study.

Term. 4 years — 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning (2,000 each training year) and a minimum of 160 hours of academic study each training year.

Training sites. This trade is listed on the 2026–2027 registration forms for the Elkhart and Fort Wayne training sites. Registration for 2026–2027 is currently open at Elkhart and Fort Wayne; other sites show “This application is not currently available.”

Wage progression. ABC’s DOL Apprentice Agreement (ETA 671) sets a hybrid, 8,000-hour term with a 1,000-hour probationary period and this progression, as a percentage of the journeyworker wage rate:

ABC teaches the NCCER curriculum. The modules below are NCCER’s published curriculum for this craft (Plumbing, REVISED 2022, 5th Edition); ABC does not publish its own module list.

Students are billed each semester. Total tuition cost will vary per-level, per-trade, per-member vs. non-member.

Who pays. The registration form asks who will be invoiced: the apprentice directly, or the company/employer. Training companies responsible for student tuition will be invoiced. Self-pay students and non-member companies must provide payment in full two weeks prior to the first day of class.

Testing out. There is a $200 fee for each level of written testing.

Veterans. ABC is a federally certified training program by Veteran Affairs. Apprentices using VA benefits receive a monthly stipend; the reimbursement goes directly to the apprentice and not to ABC.

Credentials. ABC is an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and awards globally recognized craft credentials and certificates upon completion of each level of study. Completers receive a U.S. Department of Labor certificate of completion.

Required safety certifications. Students are required to hold these certifications by the end of their apprenticeship: OSHA 10 Hour Safety Training; First Aid/CPR; Lockout/Tagout; Fall Protection; Lift Certifications (Fork, Boom, Scissor).

Associate degree. During the apprenticeship, each student must successfully complete and pass ABC Apprenticeship courses, accumulate On-The-Job Learning hours, and finish Vincennes University Core Curriculum Classes to earn the associate degree. ABC describes it as tuition free for ABC Indiana apprentices; Vincennes University’s 2026–27 catalog lists $25.00 per credit hour for major program requirements.

On-the-job hours. On-the-job hours earned must be verified by the company the student is working for: apprentices enter their hours in Flashpoint and the company confirms them.

Graduation. Indiana gathers graduates from all locations across the state for a central commencement ceremony. Graduates in attendance will be recognized as they walk across the stage and receive their ABC portfolio, V.U. Diploma if earned, DOL certificate, along with a gift from ABC and sponsors of the event!

Plumbing licensing. Plumbing apprentices must register with the Indiana Plumbing Licensing Agency within 45 days of starting; see Appendix C of the ABC Apprentice Handbook.